In the opening match of the OFC Second Round in Honiara, Tahiti gave a rude awakening to Samoa as to the increase in level of play from the first round. The Tehau trio made it a family affair for Tahiti in the early going, with Lorenzo, Johnathan, and Alvin all scoring a goal in the first twenty minutes to put Tahiti up 3-0. Alvin scored the fourth Tehau goal to make the halftime score 4-0.
Alvin gave way to a fourth Tehau, Teaonui, at the half, and Teaonui scored the fifth Tehau goal early in the second half. Tahiti added a sixth before Samoa pulled one back o make the score 6-1. In the final twelve minutes, the Tehau contingent scored four more times, bringing the family's tally to nine for the match, including four goals for Lorenzo, who scored the final three goals of the match in a frantic three-minute span. Tahiti find themselves at the top of Group A after their 10-1 victory, but two tougher tests lie ahead in New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Group favorites New Caledonia opened their 2014 FIFA World Cup against a youthful Vanuatu side in the steamy Honiara. The first thirty minutes of the match were completely dominated by New Caledonia. Olivier Dokunengo's great midfield play opened the left side of the pitch for Georges Gope-Fenepej (pictured, gray), who was a thorn in Vanuatu's side all match. He headed a ball over the defense and into the path of Bertrand Kai, who coolly finished for a 1-0 lead. Gope-Fenepej smoked a left-footed shot off the crossbar that hit the goal line and bounced out. Vanuatu found their footing in the match in the final fifteen minutes of the half, drawing a sprawling save from goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine. On the very next play, Nyikeine was caught in no man's land, but Dominique Wacalie was there to head clear a great offensive header by Vanuatu's Joseph Namariau to preserve the 1-0 lead going into the half.
The second half was a goalfest. Vanuatu maintained their momentum and scored after a through ball from Namariau found Robert Tasso, who finished on the run at the near post. Kai expertly flicked a header over an onrushing Enest Bong to restore New Caledonia's lead against the run of play, 2-1. But three minutes later, Vanuatu on the corner kick found an unmarked Brian Kaltack, who nodded a header into the crossbar, but Jean Napropol put the rebound home for a 2-2 equalizer. Again against the run of play, Kai saved a ball at the end line and put in a great cross to Gope-Fenepej, who had cut across Kaltack to find open space. Gope-Fenepej finished deftly for 3-2. Kai assured himself man-of-the-match status with an absolute wonder-strike to give New Caledonia a 4-2 and himself a hat trick. After a late own-goal, New Caledonia won the match 5-2.
Group A play resumes in two days' time on 3 June 2012.
Goals
Tahiti
Lorenzo Tehau 8, 83, 84, 85.
Johnathan Tehau 17, 78
Alvin Tehau 19, 38
Teaonui Tehau 54
Steevy Chong Hue 60
Samoa
Silao Malo 70
New Caledonia
Bertrand Kai 32, 58, 76
Georges Gope-Fenepej 66
Roy Kayara 87
Vanuatu
Robert Tasso 52
Jean Napropol 61
Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/525afe82-f1fb-45c2-82b0-531f1466dfdf/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAh97mK-0xo (Tahiti v. Samoa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKNFE4f97wY&feature=g-all-s (New Caledonia v. Vanuatu)
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAh97mK-0xo (Tahiti v. Samoa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKNFE4f97wY&feature=g-all-s (New Caledonia v. Vanuatu)
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